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Showing 1 - 10 results (out of a total of 421) found for "pass" in Ask Us Anything

Does the Ford Capri's seat fold forward?

Does the front passenger seat in the Ford Capri flip forward to the dashboard like the Tiguan's does?

Sam Stevens (York)

Mar 2026 Filed under: seating

Expert answer

Hi Sam,

Not it does not.


Skoda Superb estate or Enyaq?

Skoda Superb estate or Enyaq?

Gerard O Connell (Castleconnell)

Jan 2026 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

Before even looking at pricing, I will say that the Superb is a much nicer car to drive aside from the lack of engine and transmission noise in the Enyaq. The Superb is smoother on the road and more stable in general, also feeling more agile despite its dimensions.

We also prefer the dashboard and interface of the Superb, as the Enyaq is too reliant on the touchscreen for our liking. On top of that, the Superb has a much larger boot.

However, the Enyaq has a flat floor across the rear, making life more comfortable for any passenger in the middle row. And in general, you sit higher up in the Enyaq as well, which some people like.

The Superb Combi (to give it its official name) starts at €50,900 for the 204hp plug-in hybrid. It's from €51,435 with a 150hp petrol engine, or €500 more for the 150hp diesel. All are front-wheel drive.

At the foot of the Enyaq lineup is the '60' model at €43,790 (after all State incentives), which has a 204hp electric motor and an official range of 430km, though the next rung up the ladder, the '80' makes a lot more sense at €45,980 as it has a bigger battery for a 575km range, plus a 285hp motor.

There are several other, more expensive, Enyaqs in the lineup, including the Sportline cars and the top RS model with all-wheel drive, but there's nothing in the existing Superb Combi range to compare, really.

In terms of performance, though the Enyaq is a heavy thing, it's generally faster accelerating than the Superb because of the instant-torque characteristic of electric motors. The Superb in PHEV guise is the only one that just about match even the least powerful of the Enyaqs.

So there's the data to help you decide, depending on your priorities and budget. Feel free to come back to us with your preferences if you want us to help you narrow things down further.


Do modified exhausts pass the NCT?

Will a VW Golf with a full straight-through exhaust system pass an NCT?

Sean O'Neill (Kildare )

Jan 2026 Filed under: NCT

Expert answer

Hi Sean,

It would be very unlikely to pass, though you never know, as the testing standards across the country are variable. It could fail on a number of things, including excessive loudness, measured emissions and the fact it's a modified exhaust system.


I need more space than my 2019 Volvo S90 has...

Hi,

I've a 2019 Volvo S90 D4 Momentum at 118k km. Great car: comfortable, refined, good specification, safe. I have two kids (13 and 7), 'herself' and a Labrador. We need more boot space.

My budget is €15k ish. A 2019 XC90 is very expensive for same year as the S90 and doesn't look as good/elegant. The 2021 XC60 is a possibility.

A 2021 V90 is probably the most sensible, but does it offer more space and practicality? Not a great fan of Volvo's combination petrol and electric in the Recharge models due to reliability.

I'd consider Lexus but well used to Volvo.

What do you think?

Thanks

Justin McElwee (Galway)

Jan 2026 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Justin,

We wouldn't hesitate in recommending you go for the V90 estate as you've identified. It's more or less identical to drive and in the passenger compartment as the S90 you have, but the boot is larger and far more practical with the longer roof line. It's a superior car to Volvo's SUV in our opinions. Finding one is probably your biggest challenge.

Aside from that, if you are willing to go hybrid, you can't beat Lexus from a dependability point of view.


Will I get a full year of NCT even though it's late?

I have bought a car without a valid NCT, and it was lapsed from September 2025. I want to NCT this vehicle at the end of January 2026. Will I get a full year's pass as the new owner or only from September 2025?

Thanks

John Kennedy (Kilkenny )

Jan 2026 Filed under: NCT

Expert answer

Hi John,

Yes, you will get a full year of the NCT. Once the previous cert has expired, the next test is the starting point for the new one, regardless of ownership.


Would the Leapmotor B10 be ok as a taxi?

Hi, would the Leapmotor B10 be ok as a taxi?

John (Ballymun)

Jan 2026 Filed under: taxi

Expert answer

Hi John,

The Leapmotor B10 could be a suitable choice as a taxi as it has quite good levels of rear passenger headroom and legroom, while still retaining a useful 525 litres of boot space.

The 67.1kWh capacity battery is capable of 434 kilometres of range, and we found it to be quite close to the official energy consumption when we drove it.

Also, being an LFP battery, it is happier to be charged to 100 per cent regularly. Speaking of charging, it has a peak DC charge rate of 168kW, so 25-30 minutes will add an almost full recharge, though obviously charging up at home would be more affordable.

We did find the driver assistance features to be overbearing, but Leapmotor does provide a way of creating shortcuts to mute these, but it must be done every time the car is turned on.


Can the passenger in the MG HS alter the volume?

Can the front passenger in the current MG HS control the radio volume?

Donal Shanaghy (Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo)

Jan 2026 Filed under: miscellaneous

Expert answer

Hi Donal,

Only via the touchscreen. The driver can do it using the steering wheel buttons as well.


Best used family car for under €10,000?

Best options for a used car with two small kids? Budget under €10k, focus on boot space and reliability. City driving mostly.

Shona, Cork (Cork)

Dec 2025 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Shona,

Before we take a look for potential cars for you, I would say that you should avoid diesels, as they're not suited to mostly city driving and will end up costing more in maintenance. Stick with petrol, or hybrid if something comes up within budget.

A small estate such as the Skoda Fabia Combi could work well for you. There are plenty within budget, they're reliable and they have huge boots. The only reservation I have is that the rear seating isn't huge, which might be a problem if you have two rear-facing child seats in there. Worth going to take a look at one and making that decision for yourself. The SEAT Ibiza ST (Sports Tourer) is pretty much the same car underneath, incidentally, if you prefer the look of that.

There are VW Golf and Passat estates on the market within budget and with petrol engines as well, and they come with much more rear legroom than the Fabia, but you'd likely have to make do with an older model for under €10,000.

On a completely different tack are cars such as the Nissan Note and Kia Venga, which are more upright than most hatchbacks that take up the same amount of space on the road, to the benefit of interior space. They beat the Fabia for rear legroom, for example, but their boots aren't huge. I wouldn't want to be carrying a travel-system-style buggy as well as anything else. Nonetheless those ones I've mentioned are reliable and within budget.

The Honda Jazz is similar and it's an excellent choice.

Let me know if we're on the right track with this and if you need further help narrowing your search. 


Kia EV3 or Toyota bZ?

Kia EV3 long range Earth 2 or 3 against Toyota bZ (latest):which of these three cars would you choose?

Jerry (Cork)

Nov 2025 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Jerry,

We'd not have put the EV3 up against the bZ as a rival, as they're different sizes. The Toyota is a much larger car inside, though the Kia's boot is bigger, oddly. 

Both are smooth, comfortable and refined on the road and have a similar range and energy consumption. The Toyota is a little faster and a little better to drive, but we prefer the dashboard layout of the Kia.

In short, we can't pick a clear winner. If passenger space is a priority, then the Toyota would win, but other than that it's pretty much down to personal taste.

Go test-drive them both and let us know what you think.


Is a 2016 VW Passat 2.0 TDI reliable?

How reliable is a 2.0-litre diesel Volkswagen Passat from 2016?

Wayne P Daniels (Waterford)

Nov 2025 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Wayne,

The 2016 Passat 2.0 TDI is one of the more reliable diesel models of its generation, though as with all of them you need to keep your eyes open for things like clogged DPFs and AdBlue issues.

Another known issue with the EGR cooler or valve causes rough running and poor economy and that's expensive to fix, but it won't affect all cars.

Finally, as most examples will be of high mileage, insist on a detailed service history and, if you go for one of these cars, invest in rear suspension bushes if there's no sign of them ever being done, as it will massively improve how the car rides and handles.

All cars of that age will need some maintenance, but the Passat is certainly one of the more dependable choices – so long as it has been properly maintained.